Search Results (273)

Grassland communities consist primarily of perennial herbaceous species, with grasses forming a dominant or significant component. These ecosystems have been utilised for economic purposes since the earliest periods of human history. In the natural environment, they fulfil numerous critical functions that, despite increasing awareness of climate change, often remain undervalued. Grasslands contribute directly to climate regulation, air purification, soil conservation, flood mitigation, and public health—all of which positively affect the well-being of nearby populations. Moreover, they satisfy higher-order human needs known as “cultural” services, providing aesthetic enjoyment and recreational opportunities. These services, in tangible terms, support the development of rural tourism. The objective of this study was to examine the perception of cultural ecosystem services provided by different types of grassland communities—meadows, pastures, and lawns. The study employed a structured questionnaire to evaluate the perceived significance and functions of these communities. Respondents assessed their aesthetic and recreational value based on land-use type. To quantify these dimensions, the study applies the Recreational and Leisure Attractiveness Index (RLAI), the Aesthetic Attractiveness Index (AAI), ranking methods, and contingent valuation techniques. Based on the respondents’ declared WTP (willingness to pay) and WTA (willingness to accept) values, statistically significant differences in the perceived value of land-use types were identified. Lawns were rated highest in terms of recreational attractiveness, meadows in terms of aesthetics, while pastures achieved the highest economic values. Significant differences were also observed depending on respondents’ place of residence and academic background. The results indicate that the valuation of cultural services encompasses both functional and psychological aspects and should be integrated into local land-use and landscape planning policies. Full article

Nowadays, society is becoming increasingly committed to traveling by plane for work, tourism, and leisure in general. However, either due to internal, specific factors or to external determinants, like terrorism and climate changes, a growing number of travelers have experienced the so-called fear of flying, a persistent, irrational fear of flight-related situations for which a clear, efficacious therapy does not yet exist. Based on the usual interaction with the surrounding environment, conducted by means of the five human senses, and particularly on the neurophysiological pathway followed by the chemical senses, in this study, we revise the findings in the related literature on the topic, proposing an alternative way to alleviate the anxiety related to the fear of flight. This is based on chemosensory stimulation being applied directly during a flight and is possibly concerned with the consumption of meals, an usual activity performed onboard. After an introductory section aimed at understanding the problem, we present some studies related to chemosensory perception during the flight, highlighting the specificities of the scenarios, followed by a description of findings related to the meals proposed by flight companies in this context, and finally wrapping up the possible alternative approaches that could be conducted by such providers to alleviate the fear of flying condition through chemosensory stimulation vehiculated by meals, and enhance the quality of flight experience related to food consumption onboard. Full article

Generation Z (Gen Z; born 1997–2012) is reshaping global tourism through digital fluency, ethical awareness, and a desire for authentic, sustainable travel experiences. This study surveys 413 Gen Z travelers across France, Portugal, Romania, and the USA to map their booking behaviors, information sources, transport modes, accommodations, dining practices, and leisure activities. The findings reveal a strong preference for independent online bookings and social-media-influenced destination choices (Instagram, TikTok), with air and car travel being used for long-distance journeys and walking/public transit being used for local journeys. Accommodation spans commercial hotels and private rentals, while informal, local dining and nature- or culture-centered leisure prevail. Chi-square tests were performed to identify differences between countries. To reveal distinct traveler segments and their country’s modulations towards sustainability, a hierarchical cluster analysis was performed. The results uncover four segments: “Tech-Active, Nature-Oriented Minimalists” (32.3% in France); “Moderate Digital Planners” (most frequent across all countries, particularly dominant among Romanian respondents); “Disengaged and Indecisive Travelers” (overrepresented in the USA); and “Culturally Inclined, Selective Sustainability Seekers” (>30% in France/Portugal). Although sustainability is widely valued, only some segments of the studied population consistently act on these values. The results suggest that engaging Gen Z requires targeted, value-driven digital strategies that align platform design with the cohort’s diverse sustainability commitments. Full article

Urbanization drives spatial restructuring that transforms landscapes to prioritize human health. Grounded in therapeutic landscape theory and tourism involvement theory, this study employs PLS-SEM and CMV to examine how landscapes affect individual health amid urbanization. Key findings reveal the following: (1) A model of urbanization for tourists’ perceived health confirms urbanization enhances health perceptions via therapeutic landscapes. (2) Therapeutic landscape perceptions exert an indirect effect on health perception through the mediating variable of tourism involvement, where tourism psychological involvement demonstrates a complete mediating effect, while tourism behavioral involvement exhibits a partial mediating role. (3) High urbanization exerts a more pronounced positive influence on natural and social landscapes compared to symbolic landscapes. Notably, elevated urbanization levels significantly strengthen the positive association between natural/social landscapes and perceived health benefits. Under low urbanization, health perception does not demonstrate significant enhancement with elevated landscape perception. This study fills a critical research gap by quantitatively investigating, from a micro-scale perspective, how therapeutic landscapes enhance tourists’ health within urbanization contexts in Eastern settings. Furthermore, it extends the theoretical framework of tourism involvement in health tourism contexts, advances tourism and leisure research, and provides scientific support for sustainable tourism development and tourists’ well-being enhancement. Full article

The timeshare is gradually becoming an essential global tourism operation model, especially in rural areas of China, where the leisure industry is developing rapidly. Meanwhile, the environmental issues of the rapidly growing timeshare-related building production have received widespread attention. The existing research on zero-carbon buildings considers carbon emissions as a constant value and cannot adapt to the impact of user changes during the operation phase. Constructing a low-carbon design applicable to timeshare is significant for controlling carbon emissions in the construction industry and responding to the environmental crisis. The practical carbon emissions of touristic apartments depend on the requirement changes in different customer clusters. The timeshare theory reflects the requirement change in different customer clusters based on the timeshare property ownership change. This paper focuses on a dynamic design strategy for zero-carbon building openings to reduce practical carbon emissions. Firstly, this research clarifies the primary customer clusters and conducts a touristic apartment unit model by timeshare property ownership. Then, this research clarifies the changes in customer requirements to analyze the spatial function changes in the operating phase. Finally, the study identifies six dynamic carbon emission indicators, such as the window-to-wall ratio, ventilation rate, and effective daylight area, and through passive design methods, provides 13 variable devices applied in the operating phase to control dynamic carbon emission indicators by customers. This paper also offers a flexible method to effectively decrease and accurately control carbon emissions by reducing the possible device utility. Full article

Although open innovation is not novel within the business sector, it has recently garnered increasing scholarly interest. However, empirical investigations applying this concept to the tourism industry remain scarce. Despite tourism being one of the most significant contributors to the global economy, it continues to face persistent challenges, including political standpoints. Within this context, implementing open innovation emerges as a potentially transformative strategy. This study examines the application of open innovation to the tourism industry. Drawing upon a detailed analysis of 35 peer-reviewed articles retrieved from the Scopus database, the study adopts the PRISMA methodology to ensure methodological rigor and transparency. Articles were retrieved using a predefined search string: “Open innovation” AND “tourism industry” OR “tourism” OR “hospitality” OR “hotels” OR “leisure”. The selection process followed the PRISMA guidelines and included only peer-reviewed journal articles in English within Business and Economics. The findings reveal that open innovation enables stakeholder collaboration, supports service and experience co-creation, and facilitates digital and organizational transformation across diverse tourism contexts. The analysis shows that recent contributions in this field tend to converge around four key thematic areas: the role of open innovation in enhancing destination branding and experiential value; the importance of stakeholder collaboration and co-creation; the internal dynamics of employee empowerment and innovation culture within tourism firms; and the strategic use of digital technologies to drive transformation and resilience in the face of industry challenges. Full article

Objectives: This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of various nutritional supplements in enhancing endurance performance and subjective thermal perception in athletes exposed to high-temperature environments through a systematic review and network meta-analysis. Methods: A comprehensive search was conducted in PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, Cochrane Library, and EBSCOhost from inception to January 2025. Studies were included if they evaluated the effects of nutritional supplements on either endurance performance or subjective thermal perception in athletes under heat stress. Two independent reviewers screened the literature, extracted data, and assessed the risk of bias. A network meta-analysis was performed using R software (version 4.3.1). The search was limited to English-language publications and employed both MeSH and free-text terms related to “athletes,” “nutritional supplements,” and “exercise performance,” using Boolean operators (AND/OR) to construct the strategy. Results: Twenty-five randomized controlled trials (RCTs) involving 552 participants were included, yielding 22 comparisons: 18 assessed endurance performance, and 11 assessed subjective perception. Standardized mean differences (SMDs) and posterior probabilities (P-scores based on Bayesian ranking) were calculated using random-effects and Bayesian models. Menthol (SMD = −1.83, 95% CI [−3.15, −0.51]; P-score = 71.04%) and taurine (SMD = 0.91, 95% CI [0.08, 1.73]; P-score = 12.75%) demonstrated significant positive effects on endurance. Menthol energy gel showed the greatest improvement in thermal comfort (SMD = 2.14, 95% CI [1.01, 3.26]; P-score = 99.54%). Conclusions: Menthol and taurine appear effective in enhancing endurance in hot environments, while menthol energy gel substantially improves perceived thermal comfort. Future research should apply stricter controls regarding environmental conditions, supplement dosage, and participant characteristics. While individual supplements may offer limited benefits, synergistic combinations may yield greater improvements in performance and comfort. Full article

This article examines the land-use politics of recreation development in rural China. Extending the lens of spatial informality, it analyzes how the appropriation and acquisition of space by small suburban leisure enterprises have constituted a de facto vehicle for rural spatial reconfiguration amidst land-use constraints. Drawing on ethnographic fieldwork and case studies, we illuminate emerging scenarios in which inbound businesses burgeoned through the production of informal spaces, which were subsequently formalized or tolerated by local governments geared towards social economic growth. More so, we reveal the potential and limitations of such an informal-to-formal approach for rural spatial reconfiguration by showing how its sustainability and survival depend upon the enterprises’ ability to enter into a tacit alliance of interests with local authorities. This article casts new light on emerging bottom-up processes of spatial reconfiguration, alongside its repercussions for local suburbs, in the development of rural tourism and suburban leisure. It further suggests that, as an analytical approach, a nuanced understanding of rural restructuring under the recent national rural revitalization strategy can benefit from moving beyond the sole emphasis on formal institutions to analyze the role played by ordinary market actors and their spatial practices that shape rural territories and spatial relationships. Full article

The present paper aims to analyze consumers’ attitudes to domestic leisure tourism, considering essential factors that affect consumer travel choices and experiences. The focus is on the attitudes to the main advantages and disadvantages of domestic leisure tourism in Bulgaria. The research is based on the outcomes of a nationally representative survey among 1003 respondents aged over 18. The results are interpreted using the Fishbein multi-attribute model. The results reveal that the customers’ attitudes toward the advantages of the Bulgarian winter (ski) and summer (sea) domestic leisure tourism are relatively higher compared to the midpoint of the interval and to their highest point. Although the score for summer domestic leisure tourism is slightly lower than that of winter tourism, Bulgarian consumers appear to be more dissatisfied with the advantages of summer (sea) domestic leisure tourism. The dissatisfaction is not only greater compared to the midpoint of the scale but also in comparison to the disadvantages associated with winter domestic leisure tourism. Overall, Bulgarian consumers are more attracted to the positive aspects of domestic winter leisure tourism and more concerned about the negative aspects of summer tourism. Full article

Ecological restoration and brownfield reuse are important issues in the current field of urban sustainable development and environmental protection. This paper adopts bibliometric and network analysis methods, using more than 600 literature from Web of Science (WOS) and China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI) databases as research objects, to analyze the research trends, main researchers, contributions of different disciplines, and research hotspots in ecological restoration and brownfield reuse. Based on the results of quantitative analysis, this paper reviews the main research theories, methods, and technologies of ecological restoration and brownfield reuse at home and abroad, as well as response strategies in different regions and future prospects under challenges. Among the top 10 disciplines in terms of disciplinary contribution, the discipline with the highest relevance in the research articles of CNKI is “Environmental Science and Technology”, accounting for approximately 47.24%. The discipline with the highest relevance in the research articles of WOS is “Building Science and Engineering”, accounting for approximately 61.21%. In terms of research theories and methods, emphasis is placed on the application of ecological engineering, landscape ecology, land economics, and sustainable development methods. At the same time, adaptive management methods are emphasized, aiming to achieve a balance between ecological protection and urban development. In terms of response strategies for different regions, the main strategies for ecological restoration and brownfield reuse are proposed from five main aspects: reducing soil erosion and controlling water pollution, restoring ecological communities and enhancing biodiversity, landscape reshaping and spatial transformation, tourism development, and leisure space design. Based on the current challenges in technology, law, funding, management, and society, research prospects for strengthening interdisciplinary integration, digital drive, interdisciplinary collaboration, and multi-party cooperation in the future are proposed. It can be seen that research in this field is no longer just a simple ecological issue, but a comprehensive social problem. Full article

In an increasingly competitive global tourism context, territorial branding plays a key role in enhancing the visibility, identity, and resilience of regions. This study focuses on the Algarve, a region in southern Portugal, and investigates how innovation and competitiveness are reflected in its digital communication strategy. Using a mixed-methods approach, this research combines the quantitative analysis of 689 social media posts published in 2024 on Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube with the qualitative content analysis of 38 documents and the official website of Algarve. The findings reveal a coherent and visually appealing brand narrative centred on the coastal identity of the Algarve, complemented by content related to nature, gastronomy, and cultural heritage. Instagram stands out as the most engaging platform, particularly when posts adopt a participatory tone, emotional storytelling, and references to specific locations. However, only 6.4% of the content surpassed the 1% engagement threshold, suggesting limited audience connection. The website presents a broader thematic range but under-represents intangible heritage and local products.The Algarve brand successfully projects an aspirational image based on landscape and leisure but would benefit from greater content diversification, enhanced stakeholder integration, and expanded narrative strategies to strengthen digital engagement and destination competitiveness. Full article

The agro-tourism integration model combines agricultural production, rural life, and tourism experiences, bringing new opportunities for the sustainable development of counties. The objective of this study is to explore the impact of the agro-tourism integration on the sustainable development of counties, reveal the underlying mechanisms and regional heterogeneity effects, and provide a scientific basis for the formulation of rural revitalization policies. Based on panel data from 1749 counties in China from 2008 to 2021, an empirical test using a propensity score matching-difference-in-differences (PSM-DID) model found that the National Policy on Leisure Agriculture and Rural Tourism Demonstration Counties significantly enhances the level of sustainable development in counties through three mechanisms: stimulating consumer demand, attracting capital inflows, and optimizing industrial structure. Moreover, the effect is more pronounced in the western regions of China. In terms of theory, this study shifts the focus to the county level, constructing a comprehensive measurement index system for county-level sustainable development. It analyzes the mechanisms through which the integration of agriculture and tourism operates and verifies the policy effects. In terms of practice, policy implementations are proposed to adopt a multi-pronged approach to increase agricultural-tourism consumption; to promote government-enterprise cooperation and introduce long-term funding; and to develop the service industry in a location-specific manner to continuously optimize the industrial structure. This study indicates that agro-tourism integration is an effective path for the sustainable development of counties. The policy design needs to take into account the differences in regional resource endowments. This has important implications for promoting county-level development in a location-specific manner under the rural revitalization strategy. Full article

This study investigates the relationship between demographic factors and travel motivations among Generation Z leisure tourists through the lens of the Travel Career Pattern (TCP) theory. More specifically, the research focuses on how gender, age, and area of residence influence the travel motivations of Generation Z. Using a quantitative approach, data were collected from 303 respondents aged 18 to 28 through an online survey. The questionnaire assessed 14 motivational factors and analyzed them in relation to the participants’ demographic characteristics using linear regression models. Results indicate that gender and age significantly influence travel motivations, with women showing higher interest in personal development and social relationships, while men prioritize nature and adventure. Furthermore, rural residents exhibit greater motivation for autonomy, self-development and self-realization, while urban residents lean towards novelty and social interactions. The findings offer valuable insights for tourism marketers, emphasizing the importance of creating segmented marketing campaigns based on demographic factors. It also contributed to overcoming the lack of studies that specifically cover this interrelation between the motivational factors of Generation Z and the demographic factors of age, gender and area of residence. Nevertheless, this study also has limitations, such as the use of a non-representative sample and the focus on quantitative methods, suggesting that future research should adopt qualitative approaches and examine additional demographic variables to gain deeper insights into youth travel motivations. Full article

The present study investigates consumer preferences for eco-friendly practices implemented by outdoor sport brands, identifying which practices are perceived as most significant among the overall consumer group and within consumer segments differentiated by ecological consciousness. This study targeted consumers who had purchased outdoor sport brand products within the past one to two years. The results indicated that overall consumers regarded ‘Materials usage’, particularly ‘100% organic materials’, as the most critical eco-friendly attribute. The second most significant attribute identified was the ‘Type of campaign’, specifically ‘Consumer behavioral engagement campaigns’. ‘Carbon footprint reduction’, notably ‘Reducing 50% by 2030’, ranked third, while ‘Implementation of donations’ was considered the least important. Segment-specific analysis revealed that high-ecological-conscious consumers prioritized carbon footprint reduction more than other groups. Furthermore, the optimal combination of eco-friendly practices identified for overall and low-ecological-consciousness consumers consisted of using 100% organic materials, implementing consumer behavioral engagement campaigns, reducing carbon footprint by 50%, and actively participating in environmental conservation donations. Highly ecological-conscious consumers preferred a slightly adjusted combination, emphasizing 100% organic materials, followed by reducing carbon footprint by 50%, implementing consumer behavioral engagement campaigns, and actively participating in environmental conservation donations. These findings suggest that outdoor sport brands can strengthen their competitive advantage and sustainability by aligning eco-friendly practices with consumer preferences segmented by ecological consciousness. Full article